intro to Lijiang

The Old Town of Lijiang, which is perfectly adapted to the uneven topography of this key commercial and strategic site, has retained a historic townscape of high quality and authenticity. Its architecture is noteworthy for the blending of elements from several cultures that have come together over many centuries. Lijiang also possesses an ancient water-supply system of great complexity and ingenuity that still functions effectively today.

Back to the early ancient time, Lijiang was the transfer station of the Silk Road which was the Main artery to the transportation of southwest China, and was also the Tea and horse caravan trail which leaded to Lijiang’s border from Tibet. These two trails are as well as the trade roads and the channels that communicate with the exotic cultures and indigenous cultures. The main attributes of Lijiang culture are open, compatible and generous.

The Dongba culture, which was created and handed down by Naxi minority people is the quintessential part of the ethnic cultures. It is the legacy for the whole human being. In the Naxi Dongba pictographs, there are about 1400 characters which had been honored Living fossil, and it is well preserved now. The Dongba Scriptures are a voluminous and substantial Naxi encyclopedia, the content consists scriptures, painting, dance, sings, rituals etc.. Not only have the beautiful landscapes in Lijiang old town, but also have the multi-cultural factors. The culture of different minorities who are Naxi, Yishu, Bai etc., have coexisted for centuries. All above these factors have won Lijiang a high reputation, Lijiang will always be the heaven for everyone.

history

The Ancient Town of Lijiang, also called Dayan Town, was first set up in the Song Dynasty, and has a history of almost a thousand years. The town is famous in China for its old and simple architectural style and the elegant art for the layout of the town. The roads here are parallel to the streams, and the door of each house is facing a stream. Sifang Street is the center of the ancient town. Since ancient times, Sifang Street has been a collecting and distributing center of all kinds of products with travelers and traders going and coming everywhere.

Lijiang County locates at the foot of Yulong Mountains, by the billowing Jinsha River. It got its name Lijing (Li river) because of water, as Jinsha River was called Lishui (Li water) in ancient time. Lijing Ancient City came into existence during Song, Yuan dynasties, and developed to a large scale in Ming dynasty, and has since remained so till today, with a history of more than 800 years. The creeks that run through streets and alleys look very much like a huge green inkstone, so it was called Dayan (big inkstone) in the ancient time. Here the altitude is 2410 meters, and the yearly average temperature is 12.6 degree Celsius. The northwest mountains stopping cold air streams from the north, the southeast level fields letting in warm air streams from the south, and the shining sun in the morning, all make here warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It is a really comforting resort.

old town

Lijiang Old Town, originally built at the turn of Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty with a history of over 800 years, had always been the trade and commercial center in the northwestern Yunnan Province, as well as a town of great strategic importance along the course of the famous Tea-Horse Caravan Trail connecting Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet since the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The old town enjoys an agreeable climate as well as a favorable geographical location with the Golden-rainbow Mountain in the north, the Lion Mountain in the west, and rich farming land stretching in the southeast. The Jade River, upon arriving at the Jade Dragon Bridge, is divided into three tributaries, which branch into more minor streams and brooks flowing through the streets, corners, bridges and households, endowing the old town an aesthetic enjoyment with a peaceful combination of small bridges, running waters as well as ordinary households. The overall arrangement of the streets and houses focuses on a natural harmonization with the running waters of the old town as the major framework, which differs greatly from the urban layout of inland cities featuring a stiffness and rigidity. Streets are paved with five-color granites, Naxi civilian residences are well preserved with a blending of architectural cultures from the Han, Bai and Tibetan nationalities and courtyards as well as partition boards of ancientry are seen everywhere, which are of great value for appreciation and research.

geography

The landscape of the Lijiang region is marked by its ruggedness of terrain: high peaks and deep valleys. The mighty river gorges of the Salween (Nujiang) and Mekong (Lancangjiang) are situated to the west of the area inhabited by the Naxi and Moso, while the upper course of the Yangtze (Changjiang) cuts in a zigzag right through it and divides the Naxi from the Moso insofar as the territory to the northeast of its northern bend is inhabited mostly by Moso.

The region also boasts of fertile alluvial plains between 2000m and 3000m in altitude with a climate that, despite its continentality, is fairly mild due to the subtropical latitude. This mild climate allows for the cultivation of irrigated rice paddies in the plains of Lijiang and, more recently, around Yongning.

Lijiang region is include in the old town district, Yulong Naxi autonomous minority, Yongsheng county, Huangpin county and NInglang Yi autonomous minority. The northwest part of Lijiang is adjacent the Lanping county (Nujiang Lishu autonomous prefecture), Shangeri-la county (Diqin Tibetan autonomous prefecture) and Weixi Lishu autonomous county. The southeast part is border on Jianchuan county (Dali Bai autonomous prefecture), Heqing county, Bingchuan county and Dayao (Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture).The northeast part of Lijiang is Muli county (Lijiangshan Yi autonomous prefecture of Sichuan province), Yanyuan county, Yanbian county. The population of the whole Lijiang region is about 1,090,000 that includes about 22 minorities such as Han, Naxi, Lishu, Bai, Pumi, Dai, Miao, Tibetan etc., the population of minority is about 620,000, 57% to the general population.